Login or Sign Up
Logging in...
Remember me
Login
Forgot password or user name?
or
Sign Up
Log in with
Forums
Classifieds
Groups
Zero One Airsoft
Ground Zero Airsoft
Airsoft Festival
Today's Posts
|
Member List
|
Calendar
|
Forum Rules
|
Forum
Airsoft Related
General Airsoft Discussion
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Zero One Ads
Collapse
Random, but true!
Collapse
X
Collapse
Posts
Latest Activity
Photos
Search
Page
of
2
Filter
Time
All Time
Today
Last Week
Last Month
Show
All
Discussions only
Photos only
Videos only
Links only
Polls only
Events only
Filtered by:
Clear All
new posts
Previous
1
2
template
Next
PureSilver
Colonel
Join Date:
Jun 2011
Posts:
1693
Share
Tweet
#16
19 October, 2012, 23:41
Re: Random, but true!
Originally posted by
Thingy
View Post
Id rather every man and his dog didnt know about airsoft like they do paintball if im honest - the more people know about it, the more people have opinions on it and lets be honest, a lot of those would be negative.
^ THIS
Using the paintball analogy is beneficial to airsoft, because the public perception of paintball (woodsball) is of an adrenaline-junkie semi-extreme hobby or
SPORT
, not taken too seriously by anyone who plays it. Most people have played paintball, and this influences their perception of paintball as harmless fun that people do for birthdays and stag parties. On the other hand, I think if people know about airsoft at all it's more negatively perceived as a hobby for militaristic gun freaks (which, admittedly, we are) who glorify combat and play Coalition v Taliban games whilst real people are dying fighting the real thing. If I explain to someone that what I do is like paintball, they smile and reminisce about the last time they went. If I show someone my M4, they're a lot less positive; British people largely are very uncomfortable around guns.
If I have to explain to someone what I do of a Sunday, I'd much rather conjure an amateurish chase through the woods than a stealthy stalking exercise through an abandoned cellar while wearing a uniform and clutching a gun that cost me £500...
Originally posted by
psirus101
View Post
Its laser dammit! LASER! *shakes fist angrily* RAAARRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH
Isn't it
technically
LASER?
Comment
Post
Cancel
psirus101
Banned
Join Date:
Sep 2009
Posts:
1399
Share
Tweet
#17
20 October, 2012, 01:37
Re: Random, but true!
Originally posted by
PureSilver
View Post
Using the paintball analogy is beneficial to airsoft, because the public perception of paintball (woodsball) is of an adrenaline-junkie semi-extreme hobby or
SPORT
, not taken too seriously by anyone who plays it.
I don't think its beneficial at all. I use it only because its a well known reference that non-airsofters can relate to.
Originally posted by
PureSilver
View Post
Most people have played paintball, and this influences their perception of paintball as harmless fun that people do for birthdays and stag parties. On the other hand, I think if people know about airsoft at all it's more negatively perceived as a hobby for militaristic gun freaks (which, admittedly, we are) who glorify combat and play Coalition v Taliban games whilst real people are dying fighting the real thing.
If I show someone my M4, they're a lot less positive; British people largely are very uncomfortable around guns.
This right here is where I think Airsoft loses out, public perception of Airsoft is this.
What the public don't see is the camaraderie and general friendliness that Airsoft brings about. How many of you have talked to a newbie about your gun and tried to advise them, how many of you have taken a newbie under your wing on a game day and made sure they feel included? Its this sense of community and belonging that non-airsofters don't see, they don't see the hours chatting about random stuff and the social aspect of the sport, they see us as gun toting freaks and not the friendly, helpful group we really are. I hate the fact that we are seen as freaks just because we like replica guns, its a natural thing that we all experienced as children, "Cops and Robbers" anyone? We need to get all the aspects of Airsoft out there to be understood for us as a community to survive the "Mothers against guns" and related bullsh*t, and if we are only seen as weird gun lovers how can the sport/hobby/recreation ever hope to be accepted by society?
Originally posted by
PureSilver
View Post
If I have to explain to someone what I do of a Sunday, I'd much rather conjure an amateurish chase through the woods than a stealthy stalking exercise through an abandoned cellar while wearing a uniform and clutching a gun that cost me £500...
Why explain it like that, Airsoft is just a group of friendly people enjoying a game that anyone can play.
Originally posted by
PureSilver
View Post
Isn't it
technically
LASER?
Yes it is good sir, yes it is.
[edit] I'm sorry, I was slightly drunk whilst typing this...... Its a friday
Comment
Post
Cancel
Genesius
Lieutenant
Join Date:
Jun 2012
Posts:
303
Share
Tweet
#18
20 October, 2012, 04:41
Re: Random, but true!
My typical conversation goes like this.
'I play airsoft'
'what's airsoft?'
'umm, it's like paintball for grown ups'
'oh, right'
'imagine military simulations/training but with normal people, less discipline and guns that look real'
'cool'
Then to sweeten the cool factor I usually add
'we use flash bangs and smoke grenades too!'
I know what i said because i was standing here when i said it.
ICS FAN - Always looking for parts. PM me what you have
Comment
Post
Cancel
Benjii
Under 18 User
Join Date:
Jul 2012
Posts:
206
Share
Tweet
#19
20 October, 2012, 18:06
Wow, just read the feelings! Sheesh!
Ben
Comment
Post
Cancel
Tom Andrews
Lieutenant
Join Date:
Mar 2011
Posts:
338
Share
Tweet
#20
20 October, 2012, 21:25
Re: Random, but true!
I tried tactfully to describe to a lady at a business meeting what I did as 'similar to paintball' She replied I should try Airsoft as it was far better and she had spent hours on the internet helping her 15 year old son chose a two tone...............
She had also tried unsuccessfully to convince anti replica gun bigots on twitter that it was better to have a new airsoft shop open in their locality rather than an off licence selling cigarettes and alcohol. She was shouted down it appears...
Comment
Post
Cancel
Benjii
Under 18 User
Join Date:
Jul 2012
Posts:
206
Share
Tweet
#21
21 October, 2012, 21:20
Haha! That's brilliant, TANK!
Comment
Post
Cancel
Previous
1
2
template
Next
About the Author
Collapse
Ben, been in the airsoft 'world' for just over 2 years. Not much of a camper, a pure rusher! Find out more about
Benjii
Working...
Yes
No
OK
OK
Cancel
X